2026 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize Shortlist Announcement
The Hawkeye Publishing team and our esteemed judges are thrilled to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize!
This year, we received an astonishing 180 entries, with 24 manuscripts being selected for the longlist, showcasing an incredible range of storytelling talent.
After careful deliberation, 6 outstanding manuscripts were selected for the shortlist. Our judges were impressed by the high calibre of writing and the diversity of voices in this year’s competition.
Congratulations to this year’s shortlisted entrants, in no particular order:
The Kraken by Harrison Smith
The Search – An Aurora Freeman Adventure by Margaret M. MacDonald
A Treachery of Neighbours by Muriel Cooper
Lost Boys by Shaun Stephen
Storms of the Mind and Sea by Michael Davey
The Pact by Claudine Tinellis
A huge congratulations to all our shortlisted authors! We invite everyone to celebrate their achievements and wish them the best as they progress to the next stage of judging.
What’s Next?
Winners Announced: 24 April 2025
The overall winner, runner-up, and third-place finalist will be revealed on 24 April. For up-to-date competition announcements, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
The Prize
The 2026 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize is valued at $3,500 and includes a structural edit by Lauren Daniels, Director of Brisbane Writers Workshop, and a line edit provided by Hawkeye Publishing.
Every entrant will receive feedback on their manuscript within three months of the winners' announcement.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsor, Lauren Daniels, a highly experienced editor and the Director of Brisbane Writers Workshop, who provides the winner with a structural edit.
‘We’ve had tremendous feedback each year from the writer who’s been afforded the opportunity to work with Lauren,’ said Carolyn Martinez, Director of Hawkeye.
Since 2019, every winner of the Hawkeye Prize has been contracted for publication.
Additionally, all longlisted manuscripts are considered by Hawkeye’s submissions review panel for a potential trade publishing contract.
We look forward to announcing the winners in April!